ASPO Abstracts
CARE-ing for Spanish-speaking cancer patients: the role of a Latino cancer support group in a safety-net hospital
Category: Survivorship & Health Outcomes/Comparative Effectiveness Research
Conference Year: 2020
Abstract Body:
Background: Latino cancer patients/survivors (CPS) are known to experience significantly higher levels of distress
and lower quality of life compared to Non-Latino Whites. Social support resources are limited in availability and
uptake among non-English speaking CPS due to language, economic, and socio-cultural barriers. Cancer
Awareness, Resources, and Education (CARE) is a cancer wellness support group that offers three independent
quarterly educational series in English, Cantonese, and Spanish for CPS at Zuckerberg San Francisco General
Hospital (ZSFGH).
Purpose of the study: We aimed to evaluate the role of Spanish CARE for Latino CPS participants.
Methods: Anonymous surveys were administered by volunteer staff to program participants. Pre-program surveys
were administered during the first 3 weeks of the program and a post-program survey was administered on the
final session. Surveys assessed participants demographics, perceived social support and role of the program.
Results: Among 14 Latino CPS surveyed, 26% identified getting emotional support as the main reason they
attended Spanish CARE. Other common responses included talking with other patients affected by cancer (22%)
and learning more about cancer from the educational presentations (24%). All participants were likely or very likely
to refer the CARE program to other CPS.
Conclusions: Spanish CARE provides cultural and language concordant emotional and social support to Latino
CPS while providing patient education and well-being resources. Our current efforts include the development of
surveys and focus groups to evaluate the educational and wellness needs of Latino CPS, as well as their
preferred delivery methods.
Keywords: support group latino cancer survivors